From sunset May 23rd through sunset May 24th is the Day of Pentecost for 2026.
Pentecost comes from the Greek words essentially meaning 50th.
It comes from the counting of 7 weeks, plus 1 day in the Book of Leviticus:
15 ‘And you shall count for yourselves from the day after the Sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering: seven Sabbaths shall be completed. 16 Count fifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath; (Leviticus 23:15-16)
Jesus told His disciples to wait in Jerusalem:
4 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, (Acts 1:4)
And they did:
12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet (Acts 1:12)
The disciples did not just believe Jesus, they did what He said to do. And:
1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit … (Acts 2:1-4)
They were blessed for their obedience. Notice what else happened on that day:
38 … Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” (Acts 2:38-39)
The day of Pentecost pictures the start of the New Testament church and that the firstfruits of the kingdom of God are being called in this age.
Because Pentecost involved counting seven weeks, the Bible sometimes calls it the Feast of Weeks. Notice something that is supposed to be done on that:
16 “Three times a year all your males shall appear before the Lord your God in the place which He chooses: at the Feast of Unleavened Bread, at the Feast of Weeks, and at the Feast of Tabernacles; and they shall not appear before the Lord empty-handed. 17 Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord your God which He has given you. (Deuteronomy 16:16-17).
So, Bible commands that an offering would be taken up on that day.
You are to give as you are able. Pentecost is also called the “day of firstfruits”:
26 Also on the day of the firstfruits, when you bring a new grain offering to the LORD at your Feast of Weeks, you shall have a holy convocation (Numbers 28:26).
Now, let’s look at the New Testament:
6 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. (2 Corinthians 9:5)
What are some of the reasons?
Jesus said, in Matthew 6:10, to pray for God’s kingdom to come.
When will that be?
Consider the following:
25 For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. (Romans 11:25)
The late Pastor General of the old Worldwide Church of God, Herbert W. Armstrong wrote:
Now study carefully beginning verse 25: “Blindness in part is happened to Israel [HOW LONG? Forever? No — note it], UNTIL the fulness of the Gentiles be come in” — the end of this age during which God is calling a people from among the gentiles to bear His name (Acts 15:14). And so, says Romans 11:26, “all Israel SHALL BE SAVED [how?]: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob.” The Deliverer, Jesus Christ, is coming again! …
Notice verse 31. These blinded Israelites have not now, in this age, received mercy, that through the mercy of the gentiles saved in this age, they MAY, THEN, obtain mercy and salvation. How? Because these saved gentiles will then be kings and priests, assisting in this wonderful Work! (Armstrong HW. Where Will The MILLENNIUM Be Spent? Tomorrow’s Word magazine, September 1971)
That fulness, that full number, of Gentiles must come in before Jesus returns.
They are part of the firstfruits that the Day of Pentecost pictures.
How are they to be reached?
14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written:
“How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace,
Who bring glad tidings of good things!”16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” (Romans 10:14-16)
Do you believe?
Do YOU take the words of the Bible seriously enough to support the work of reaching others?
James, the half-brother of Jesus, wrote:
14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe — and tremble! 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? (James 2:14-20)
Are you obeying God?
Do you want His kingdom to come?
Are you giving as you should?
We have a new Pentecost offertory video:
Pentecost Offertory
What is Pentecost? Is it also known as the Feast of Firstfruits and the Feast of Weeks? Did the apostles keep it after Jesus’ resurrection? Are offerings commanded in the Bible for that day? What is the purpose of the offerings? Are Gentile supposed to be called now? When is Jesus to return? Should the proclamation ministry be supported financially? What about support for the poor and hungry? How much should you give? Are donations to the Continuing Church of God tax deductible in the United States? What about in Canada and New Zealand? Are you a doer of the word of God or a hearer only, deceiving yourself? Steve Dupuie and Dr. Thiel go over these matters.
Here is a link: Pentecost Offertory.
Do not be stingy. The Apostle Paul was inspired to write:
6 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. 9 As it is written:
“He has dispersed abroad,
He has given to the poor;
His righteousness endures forever.”
10 Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, (2 Corinthians 9:6-10)
The day of Pentecost pictures the calling of the firstfruits.
The sower needs to plant for the increase to come.
Do you really want the kingdom of God to come?
Will you support the work of reaching the Gentiles so this age will end?
Remember that the faithful are to support the work of supporting the ministry to reach others.
Those who hear and do not obey are deceiving themselves.
Faith without works is dead.
Sow bountifully.
As far as offerings to the Continuing Church of God go, let it be stated that neither Bob Thiel nor his wife Joyce take a salary from the Continuing Church of God.
To send an offering, our mailing address is Continuing Church of God, P.O. Box 109, Grover Beach, CA 93483. Telephone is 1-805-574-1818.
Some have sent checks, others cash, others money orders, and even have used Western Union to donate. We also accept bank transfers. We also do have a way to accept donations via VISA/MasterCard/Discover.
We do accept donations via PayPal (which also will handle many major credit cards). For that, please go to the PayPal button found on the web page about Donations.
In the USA, donations are immediately tax deductible as we have full IRS tax exempt status per Title 26 IRC 508(c)(1)(A). For those who in live in the State of California, we were specifically-approved in writing for our request for tax exemption status there. California nonprofit corporation number C3558924.
Donations to the Continuing Church of God are 100% deductible in all the US states.
Tax exempt status in New Zealand was also approved, and hence donations in New Zealand are also fully tax deductible. Check out CCOG.nz as you have to send donations to New Zealand for them to be deductible there.
Tax exempt status in Canada was also approved, and hence donations in Canada are also fully tax deductible. Check out CCOGCANADA.CA as you have to send donations to Canada for them to be deductible there.
For more on how the Continuing Church of God spends funds it receives can be found on the web page about Donations.
Anyway, be a doer of the word and not a hearer only who has fallen for deception of yourself.
Some items of possibly related interest may include:
Pentecost: Is it more than Acts 2? Many “Christians” somewhat observe Pentecost. Do they know what it means? It is also called the Feast of Harvest, the Feast of Weeks, and the day of firstfruits. What about “speaking in tongues” and led by the Holy Spirit? (Here is a related link in Spanish/español: Pentecostés: ¿Es más que Hechos 2? plus one by Herbert Armstrong HWA sobre Pentecostés). Here is a YouTube sermon titled Pentecost: What it Teaches and When it is.
Pentecost is Part of God’s Plan. This combines a couple of articles from the 1980s, plus additional scriptures and modern comments about Pentecost. Here is a related sermon: Pentecost Plan.
Does the CCOG have the confirmed signs of Acts 2:17-18? Does any church have the confirmed dream and prophetic signs of Acts 2:17-18? Should one? Here is a link in the Spanish language: ¿Tiene la CCOG confirmadas las señales de Hechos 2: 17-18? Here is a link in the French language: Est-ce que l’Église Continue de Dieu confirme les signes d’Actes 2:17-18? A related sermon in the English language is also available: 17 Last Days’ Signs of the Holy Spirit.
Predestination: Did God really call You? Why? Predestination? Is your ultimate fate decided for you in advance? Here is a link to a related video sermon: Predestination: What it is and what it is not. Another related video is Predestination and Pentecost.
Is God Calling You? This booklet discusses topics including calling, election, and selection. If God is calling you, how will you respond? Here is a link to a related sermon: Could God be Calling You? A short animation is also available: Is God Calling You?